TOWARDS UNITED EUROPE

Chronicle (Levin), 30 November 1949, Page 5

TOWARDS UNITED EUROPE

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Churchill Urges Need For Early Decisiou / ' ■■ — .

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Received Tuesd&y, 7 p.fn, - LONDON, Nov. 29. NO time should be. lost By the British Governmeht "ih diSeussihg with Eihpire countries the (quegtion of European Union "to convinee them their hiterests as well as outs, lie in a Uhited Europe," Mt> Churchill told a London mfeetihg Of abOUt IfiOO 'supporters Of .the European movement last hight. Re said the altefnatiVe to the success of a united EUrope was "a complete breakdown of European economy . and society wheh Ameriqah aid eoihes to an end." He added: "That woujd.be attehded by widespfead misery which is the. soil from which commUnism springs ahd the sad diet on Which it feeds," None of the great parthers could stand aside Wjithout ihflictihg mOrtal .ihjury on the cause "but there- is no danger of Britain standing aside." Mr. Churchill said understanding and coOperation must be established between Gertnahy and the rest df Europe. "Therefore, although there has been much delay when time is short, we are able tonight to welcome the recent decision in favour of a partial abandonment of the provocative and at the same time ineffectual policy of dismantling," Mr. Churchill said: "We recognise in this island that we have, become aii integfal part Of EurOpe. We Mean to play otir part in the revival of prosperity ahd of the greathess Of the Contineht. For Britain tq enter the European Union from which the Empire ahd Commonwealth were excluded, WOUld, ih the eyes of Europe, seriously reduee the value of pur help. No time shoUld be lost ih disCuSSing this qUestiOh with the Dominions, seeking to convinee them that their irtterests as Well as ours lie in a united EurOpe. The OppOftuhity for these consultatioris oners itself at the Colombo conference of Commonwealth Foreign Ministers early next year. We ask that the isSUe of European Uhioh should be placed upon the agenda of this conference and when the European Assembly meets again at Strasbourg, we trust that the representatives of Britaih and Ministers will no longer be restrained by any uncertainty about the wishes of our partners and kith and Kin across the ocean." The president of the European Consultative Assembly, M. PaUl Henri Spaak, told the meeting that with Germany already beginning to rise again, the counterbalance of Britain in Europe was indispensable. He said the problem of Europe's organisation depended today mainly 011 Britain and for that reason the responsibility on Britain was great. "Should Britain lose interest in the question I feel Continental Europe — compelled by neeessity-— will organise hersdlf Without Great Britain. To deprive ourselves at this moment of the Anglo-Saxon contribution would bring further and catastrophic mutilations -to Europe." M. Spaak said in such a Europe, Germany's part would be considerable— "too cohsiderable."